Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, is set to visit Vietnam and the Philippines next week in a bid to bolster regional ties following recent tariff actions. This visit comes in the wake of a tour by China’s President Xi Jinping in Southeast Asia. Japan considers Southeast Asia a vital strategic partner, and Ishiba’s trip will primarily concentrate on enhancing economic, defense, and people-to-people cooperation. The visit aims to deepen relations and foster collaboration in key areas.